Bolshoi director Anatoly Iksanov dismissed after 13 years

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The World

Russia's famed Bolshoi theater, which is in the midst of a historic renovation, seems to be getting renovated from the inside out as well, with the Kremlin on Tuesday removing long-serving Anatoly Iksanov from his position, according to BBC News

Iksanov's dismissal after 13 years is the latest shake-up at a theater in turmoil.

Iksanov has been accused of mismanaging the Bolshoi's costly renovation and has also been fighting with dancer Nikolai Tsiskaridze, who was let go last month as he demanded Iksanov's resignation. 

Russian lawyer Alexei Pushkov, known for his ties to the Kremlin, tweeted that Tsiskaridze's removal had been "the last straw" for frustrated Russian authorities, reported The Guardian.

Iksanov will be replaced by Vladimir Urin, who quickly promised no more "revolutions" in the scandal-ridden theater.

In comments to reporters Tuesday, Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky said the Bolshoi, built in 1776 by Catherine the Great, was in need of "renewal."

In Russia, art and politics are often intertwined. The intrigue at the Bolshoi goes back years, but things have been particularly heated ever since a brutal acid attack on former director Sergei Filin. A Bolshoi soloist was arrested in March over the incident.

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